The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Yeo Joo Saves the World – Episode 48

“Is this really enough?”
“I’m telling you it is. Oh, what’s that?”
“…That’s bat grass. It’s a D-rank herb that’s good for skin.”
“Wow. That’ll really sell well.”
“…It should, yeah.”
In exchange for clearing out the dungeon monsters, what I’d asked Im Chung Soo to help with was gathering herbs.
“So, like, we don’t have to do mana stone mining or anything?”
“We can do that next time. Here, what’s this one?”
“I already told you, it’s a Matika fruit. You’d think you’d listen when someone explains things.”
“They all look the same to me.”
“How are they the same! This one’s pointy, and that one’s round!”
At first he’d acted indifferent to everything, but once something came up that he actually knew about, he became quite talkative.
That was a good sign.
It meant he was gradually opening up to us, after all.
And there was someone who’d discovered a talent they didn’t even know they had.
“Chung Soo, that’s whirlwind grass, right? I think you said it had fever-reducing effects.”
“Yeah. You picked it up after just one explanation. Unlike some people.”
Im Chung Soo answered Han Ji Sung’s question while giving me a look like I was some pitiful cousin he’d run into at a holiday gathering.
Fine, go ahead and jab if you want.
As long as he’s getting closer to the Justice Guild members, that’s what I want.
“But if that’s the case, is your skill like an encyclopedia?”
“When I see plants and stuff, it’s more like a book opens up right in front of my eyes.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. So you can identify things like that even if they’re not herbs?”
“Yeah, stuff like that. My grandfather went into the city once and bought my grandmother a hairpin as a gift, and I could see information about that too.”
“That’s seriously an incredible skill. Right, Jang Su Ho?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Jang Su Ho, who’d been loitering nearby, answered with genuine amazement.
“Once Chung Soo joins the guild, we won’t have to pay appraisal fees anymore…”
“Hey, this is good for your health. Try it.”
“Ugh, ptooey ptooey ptooey! I got dirt all in my mouth!”
“Yeah, that’s what it’s supposed to do.”
What kind of nonsense is this!
I still couldn’t bring up anything about recruiting Im Chung Soo into the guild.
Im Chung Soo, who’d appeared like a comet in the Sejong Dungeon, had been twenty years old at the time.
“Chung Soo, how old are you this year?”
“Seventeen.”
“So you’re a first-year high school student.”
“I don’t go to school, but yeah, that’s about right.”
So it meant he wouldn’t be recruited into the Maestro Guild until three years from now.
If I let things flow naturally, this kid would be stuck in this Mountain Village for quite a while longer.
And there must have been reasons not explicitly stated in the novel—reasons that made it inevitable.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Three years would be too late.
To prevent the apocalypse of this world, there were mountains of things I needed to accomplish in the meantime.
And if Im Chung Soo was part of that process, it would be like giving a Lamborghini wings.
Because I was the Lamborghini meant to prevent the apocalypse.
“Oh, noona! You said that was a weed, didn’t you!”
“But it looks exactly the same as this one.”
“How is it the same? This is frustrating. Just leave it and go over there.”
In the end, I was robbed of the hoe I’d borrowed from Im Chung Soo and banished to the shade.
…A Lamborghini doesn’t need to know the difference between weeds anyway.
I’d have Chung Soo do it.
In any case, the time I spent in the shade beneath the tree wasn’t long.
“There’s more than I expected?”
Following Im Chung Soo’s directions, I plucked out only the useful medicinal herbs, and they accumulated quickly—soon piling up as much as the fallen leaves scattered in autumn.
“Do you think this will fit?”
Han Ji Sung asked, pulling out a large black plastic bag he’d brought to carry garbage after camping.
But sharp criticism came flying back immediately.
“Then the herbs will all be ruined!”
And with that, Im Chung Soo clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“But we can’t just leave all of this behind.”
“…Just try using something like this.”
Im Chung Soo pulled out several woven baskets identical to the one he was wearing from his subspace and handed them to us.
“But I don’t think everything will fit in here… What is this?”
The basket looked roughly woven from something resembling straw on the surface, but when I put my hand inside, it felt different.

[ Woven Basket ( B )
: A woven basket containing a subspace that reduces volume.
Maker – Im Chung Soo ]

With a sack like this, even the legendary sack-carrying grandfather could snatch children away.
It wasn’t the type that ignored both volume and weight—it remained B-grade—but even this alone proved that Im Chung Soo’s crafting skill proficiency had already reached quite a respectable level.
“Can’t ignore the weight, so strong folks gotta carry it.”
“Chung Soo, you….”
Really appetizing, isn’t it?
“Pack this and that too.”
Originally, I’d planned to leave some behind out of necessity.
“No wait, should we dig a bit more?”
“We’re comin’ back in a few days anyway. We can dig more then. Don’t be too greedy now.”
Oh, he read me like a book in one go?
In any case, Im Chung Soo’s words made sense, so I decided not to collect any more herbs.
Besides, there was something more important than herbs right now.
“Let’s head home, Chung Soo.”
I slung the heavy sack over my shoulder and spoke to Im Chung Soo.
“We need to eat the delicious meal Grandmother’s prepared for us.”
Then, at last, the familiar “ding-dong—” sound rang out, and above Im Chung Soo’s dark head appeared bubbling hearts and a speech bubble.

《 ♥ 5 》

“…Let’s go quick.”

* * *

When I exited the Dungeon, the sun was already setting.
The elderly couple welcomed us back as warmly as if we were their own grandchildren, despite our early departure and late return.
“Phew, I’m stuffed.”
“Now then, let’s have some boiled corn for dessert. Summer corn is wonderfully sweet.”
Before we could even clear the table, Grandmother emerged carrying a tray piled high with boiled corn.
“No, Grandmother, we’re already so full….”
“I don’t care.”
That cowardly Im Chung Soo.
Running away alone?
I glared at Im Chung Soo’s back as he scurried toward his room, but ultimately we had no choice but to force each kernel of corn into our already-full stomachs.
“Well….”
“Grandmother, really, if we eat any more, our stomachs will burst.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Grandmother exchanged a meaningful glance with Grandfather, who had been watching the news.
The living room fell silent once the TV was turned off—so quiet that even the sounds of night insects from outside became audible.
“Well…. How is our Chung Soo doing?”
“I believe he’s a very bright and intelligent young man.”
Kang Han’s textbook answer only frustrated the elderly couple further.
“No, not that. It seems like he might be an Awakened one or something like that.”
So they had known all along.
That Im Chung Soo had Awakened.
Of course they would have noticed—he kept bringing back rare herbs we’d never seen or heard of anywhere else and brewing medicine from them.
Eventually, Grandfather broached the main topic.
“We were wondering if the Justice Guild might be willing to take him in….”
“You mean our Guild?”
Kang Han fell into silent contemplation.
Interpreting his thoughtful expression as hesitation, Grandfather grew anxious and quickly added more.
“What would that boy do out here in this Mountain Village anyway? Right? I’m not asking for much. Just feed the child and let him attend School in Seoul—that’s all I’d ask for.”
“….”
An answer didn’t come easily.
For good reason.
Grandmother and Grandfather didn’t understand Im Chung Soo’s value as an Awakened, but we did.
To be precise, I knew exactly, while the others could only vaguely infer from what they’d witnessed in the Dungeon.
But that alone was enough.
He could accurately appraise Dungeon products, and the carrying sack he’d created even had a subspace storage skill attached to it.
Kang Han’s conscience was pricking him at the thought of simply accepting Im Chung Soo into the Justice Guild when he’d be welcomed by any other major Guild.
I somewhat agreed with Kang Han’s sentiment…. or rather, what was I thinking?
We had to accept him right away!
Kang Han’s gaze turned toward me.
After all, I was the one managing the Guild.
To be precise, accepting a new guild member was a decision that required the consent of both Kang Han and myself.
Of course, I’d already made up my mind about transferring Im Chung Soo to the Seoul Awakener School, but there was something I wanted to confirm first.
“Um, but why hasn’t Im Chung Soo registered as an Awakener yet?”
“Well, since we live in the Mountain Village, I can’t speak for Seoul, but out here you’d have to drive for about two hours to find that kind of equipment. So we only do it twice—once when you’re born at the Hospital, and once when you turn twenty and become an adult.”
So that was why Im Chung Soo first appeared as a Maestro Guild member at twenty years old.
We had discovered Im Chung Soo three years earlier than that timing.
What good fortune, what tremendous good fortune.
“No matter how dire the times become, young people should go to Seoul. So please, take our Im Chung Soo with you.”
“Well then.”
I smiled reassuringly at the elderly couple and spoke.
“We’ll have a separate discussion about this. We’ll do what’s best for Im Chung Soo.”

* * *

Kang Han and I stepped outside.
“Wow, the stars are absolutely pouring down.”
In the dark Mountain Village, the night sky was thick with stars.
Feeling the crisp night air, I asked Kang Han.
“What do you want to do?”
“…Im Chung Soo will probably receive quite a high rank. So he’d be a great asset to the Justice Guild too.”
“But?”
“But that’s the problem. If Im Chung Soo goes to a larger, more prestigious guild, he’d likely receive much better treatment.”
“So we’d feel guilty about snatching him up?”
“Must you phrase it that way…? It’s not wrong, though.”
Kang Han nodded, his expression showing he’d given up trying to lecture me further.
“When you brought the Eul Chan twins, did you struggle with it like this?”
“No. I brought them with the intention of protecting them until they reached adulthood.”
“So what’s different about Im Chung Soo?”
“Im Chung Soo is…”
“Don’t tell me—our Eul Chan twins have low ranks, and Im Chung Soo seems like he’ll have a high rank, so you’re making some cold, heartless rank-based distinction?”
Kang Han clamped his mouth shut and stared at me with eyes full of displeasure.
That’s exactly what someone looks like when they have plenty to say but choose not to say it.
“Guild Master, you know how large guilds treat Hunters who haven’t reached adulthood, don’t you?”
Large guilds move solely for profit.
The absolute number of Hunters is small.
Yet most of them want to belong to a large guild.
So guilds use a competitive system to score Hunters’ performance, and based on those scores, they constantly change which Dungeons they can clear, salaries, and welfare benefits.
Contracts are only one year, or at most two years.
Those who haven’t yet Awakened are grouped as ‘youth’ and receive at least some legal protection, or so they say.
But Im Chung Soo is already an Awakened Hunter.
If he joined a large Guild, he’d probably end up thrown into that cold, cutthroat competitive system with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Of course, Chung Soo is S-rank, so the situation would be somewhat different.
Either way, it’s painfully obvious what would happen to a seventeen-year-old country boy who’d lived alone with his grandparents, suddenly thrust into the heart of a massive Guild.
“What do you think a large Guild would do with a naive seventeen-year-old fresh off the farm who doesn’t know how the world works? Especially one with both Emotion and Crafting skills.”
They’d wring out a new S-rank like wringing out a mop to recoup their investment.
“…I overlooked that point.”
“There’s just one thing that concerns me.”
“What’s that.”
“Whether the other Guild members will adapt well.”
The Justice Guild had survived these past two years bound tightly together ever since Jang Su Ho joined two years ago.
But if a new member came in now, would they be alright?
“They’ll be fine.”
Kang Han answered without a shred of doubt in his voice.
“They’re all used to accepting someone unfamiliar as a Guild member.”
Right, that’s true.
They were all people Kang Han had brought in when they had nowhere else to go.
“You accepted Yeo Joo well enough, didn’t you.”
This guy was doing fine, and then—
“You know, Guild Master, sometimes you’re a bit annoying. You know that?”
“I know. That’s why I’m saying it.”
A faint smile played at the corners of Kang Han’s mouth as he spoke.
Well, look at that. He can actually smile.
“Anyway, so you’re good with it then? Though Chung Soo’s opinion would be the most important.”
I had no intention of casually seeking Chung Soo’s consent.
My real money was about to become cyber currency, so who cares about consideration.
I’d have to twist his arm however I could.
“And Yeo Joo.”
“Yes, what is it.”
“Recruiting new Guild members is good, but take care of yourself first.”
With that, he draped my jacket over my shoulders—I had no idea when he’d grabbed it—and slipped back inside the house.
“Unnecessarily considerate, that’s all.”
I watched Kang Han’s retreating figure before turning to take a walk around the house.
‘How do I cook this squirrel so people will praise my culinary skills.’
I was just starting to think it over.
“It’s dark out at night. Where are you going.”
Im Chung Soo emerged from behind a large jujube tree near where Kang Han and I had been talking.
Damn.
He’d clearly been standing there the whole time.
I asked anyway, just in case.
“You weren’t….”
“Hey. I heard everything.”
Damn it.
That cursed stealth skill.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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